Automatic motor-starter.



H.- L. VAN VALKENBURG. AUTOMATlC MOTOR SMRTER. Mmcmo msn Mmm. ms.

Patented May 2l, i918.

3 SHEETS-SHEEY I.

@About H. L. VAN VALKENBURG.

AuToMAnc Moron sumen.

Patented May 21,1918.

3 SHEETS-SNES] 2 APPLICATION FILED AUG 2l |916 H. L. VVAN VALKENBURG. AUTOMATIC MOTOR STARTER.

APFLICATIBN FILED AUGTZI, 19TH. 1,266,642. Patented May 21,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

STATES PATENT OFFICE.

mol' L. VAN VALKENBURG', OF MILWAUKEE; WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR T0 INDUSTRIAL UONTBOLLEB COMPANY, 0I' MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION 0F WIS- ventionis to produce a simple, 'durable and effective device, .whereby the -controlV circuit, the matically, and inl roper order, and at'the propel-.intervals ci) time, control the circuit relations, ofthe different sections of startir resistance. ln the wirin diagram. here us to illustrate the 'princip cof the invention,

the sections' of starting resistance are connec ,1'nthe armature c1rcu1 t,and are successivelycut out of circuit durin vthe -automatic operation of the device. y `device-is so; constructed and arranged that a momentary closing of the, control switch is `sufficientptoseti the device in .operation and keep itin operation luntil theprogram of operation is; lltpleted. f Another characteristictisnthatthe Lmain operating solenoid is protected; by means which automatically reduces the mnount of .current passing through -theoperating .solenoid as soon as the mamv switchfelementjhasreached running position."4 Thislsaves overheating of the operating coiland. has otheradvantages.' Another characteristic is that the initial movement of the main. switch follows almostinstantaneously, I4after 'the :closing of the control switchhthe yremainder of movement. of said main sw-itch 4being at a` slower rate. y In carrying-out the invention, the control circuit -has' tv'i'oparallel branches. y.' The iii-stof these branches l-is on` Vnormally open .circuit n nd is closed by theo eratorwhen he wishes to start=the motor. he secondbranch has in ita holdin switch whichis self-closing when r'el'esedut which is held open by the mainV switchwhen the latteris in normal nonrunning` osition. But although said holding switcl .is held open by the mainjswitch elementgjit detached therefrom with the resultth'at the' holding switch does not in any wa limit the movementY ofthe mainswitch, sai -mainvswitclihaving a considerable dis- Spccicaticn. of Letters Patent.

application nea mit si, me. sensi m. 115.9.

u n the closing of v gvice will autoswitch ns Ithe latter rises.

AUTOMATIC MOTOR-STARTER.

Patented May 21, 1918.

chiefly on the Fi 2. gig. iis a sectional detail view on the line Fig. 5 is sectional detail view on the line 5h45, Fig. 3. c v 4 Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram illustrating the principle of operation of the invention. Similar numerals refer to similar parts throu hout the several views.

Re erring first to the physical apparatus shown in the first five figures of the drawings, I provide a panel 1 of slate or other insulating material to form a main sup ort for thc parts. JFastened to the front o this panel 1s a row of brackets :2. each of which carries 80 a pivot pin 3 which forms a fulcrum for its respective contact linger 4, there-being shown live of the latter indicated at 4, 4*, b", 4, and 4". Each ofr these fingers is connected by n flexible resistance 5 to a stud 6, which 85 vpasses through the panel to the back where surround the rods 8 und are `backed up by theprojecting portion of thebracket. The contact fingers are arranged at dierent elevations or 1n. different ranks so that they may be engaged successivel by the main heir downward movement is limited by 'the nuts "9 which seat on the top of the brackets.

The main switch element in the present design has a bar which preferably has one part 10 0f carbon and another part l0* of oop er.

It is arranged horizontally beneath the ree 4ends of the contact lingers and is supported in the `channel member 11, carried by but insulated from the cross arm 12.-- In the re-flo.

ferre'ddesign the bar is "removahly hel 'in ton,

lace b set screws 13, and consequently may be rea ily renewed when necessary.' Sai bar is connected in circuit through a llexible conductor 14 leading to a stud 15 passing through to the back of the panel. ross arm 12 is supported referably at the middle by a stem 16, whic is screw threaded into it and fastened by a set screw 17 or other suitable device. Stem 16 is guided by a solenoid frame cap 18 which is fastened at the-top of the solenoid frame 19. Said lframe is bo ted or otherwise rigidly secured to the anel. At the lower end of stem 16 is a mova le core 20 of a solenoid S which core travels within the main operating coil 21. By preference stem 16 is of brass and coil 2 is cylinder 22 of brass, and a brass washer 23 is placed at the upper end of the core to prevent same from sticking to the ca 18 as a. result of residual magnetism. Co energized throu h the conductors 24 end 25. F astened tot e'lower end of core 2Q is a piston which, according to the present design, has a very mally held expanded b a; torus 2? of heli-k cally wound wire, sai sprin being overlaid b a disk 30. A disk 31 o felt or other suitab e material is also provided, the same bein supported lupona disk 32, vsupported by the head of the'screw ,33 which screws into the lower end of the core. This piston travels wit-hin the cylinder 34 which is rigidl noid rame. The cylinder and piston form what may be termed a vacuum dash ot. At the lower end of the dash pot is a ead 35 which has a port 86 the effective opening whereof is controlled by a. needle va ve 37. A port 38 is formed in the side of the dash pot near the lowerend. At a proper distance above this is a second4 port 89 formed of one o'r more apertures.- A passage 40 leads from one of these Orts totbe other on the outside of the das pot and forms a by-pass. This bypass is preferably integral with the cylinder head.. As a result of the presence of these ports and bypass, an u 4ward pull of the solenoid produces initial y a very ra 'id upward movement of the Apisor t readily flow down through the by-pass. As soon, however, as thegp elf-port 39 is closed,

the u ward movement o the piston becomes retar ed and thereafter the rise of the moving parts is slow.' When the piston is moving upward in the dash pot, assoon as it the ports 39, it compresses the air above it and this compressedair helps. to

move the-piston downward-rapidly as soonas the solenoid has become deiier 'zed.

Thus, when the solenoid is denergize both the compressed air in the cylinder and gravity copei'ate with the pressure of the contact fin ers 4 to quickly lower `the main switch ar. The fingers which descend limewire a i flexible ,cupleather 28, norfastened to the bottom of the so1e V which, in turn,

e fluid (in tbxis case, air) may 'helical spring 60. which encircles farthest will continue their pressure after the contact bar has moved the lin ers which are higher up, and thus the action of the device in opening is very quick.

I have provided a protective resistance in series wit the main switch solenoid 21 and means for automatically cutting this resistance into circuit after the main switch has reached closed or final running osition. It requires less electromagnetic pul to hold the main switch closed than to move it to closed position, and by thus cutting down the current through the solenoid after. the main switch is closed the solenoid is protected against overheating. I will now describe the means by which this protective resistance is automatically brought into circuit: An operating rod is fastenedat its upper end toi a projection 46 extending rearward from the cross arm 12, as best shownin Fl, 2. The rod screws into said projection an when properly adj usted, is held by a set screw 47. A nut 48 is carried' at the lower end of the rod. as best shown in Fig. 3, and when the rodlias ilmost reached its uppermost position he nut en ges and lifts the lever 49,' whic is-pivote upon the ulcrum pin 50 which projects from the front of lthe .,panel. The free end of the lever Vis prefer- ;ably provided with a block 51 of insulating material which, upon the rise of the lever, engages the nose 52 of a lever 53, which is fulcrumed upon the stud or post 54, projecting from the front of the anel. venience, the lever 53' may e referred to as a rotectin snch, and in the preferred design, it is in electric contact wit post 54 is adapted at the rear end of the aliel to be electrically connected to a suite 'le conductor as best shown in Fi. 4. At the free end said switch carries a car n tip 56 in position to engage a carbon tip or bl k 57 carried bythe posty 58 projecting For conv from the panel. In the present design, this i post forms part of the circuit, being adapted to be electrically connected to a conductor at the back of the anel. Switch 53 is noi mally held closed, t at is, with'tip 56 in contact with ti V57. This is accomplished in the present design through the medium o f a acm sleeve 61 supported upon posts 4, `s beitiio shown in Fig. 4. ,The arrangem nt of the parts is such that a very slight mo ement of the free end of the lever 49 will ove the switch 53 to a safe distance away rom post 58 to prevent arcing.

I have also provided' means for holding thc control circuit closed as soon 4as the ush button or other controll switch has en closefl even though 'said control. switch remains closed but momentarily, and is thereupon immediately released, IWill now describe this liolding means:- A

Projecting from the front of the panel is &5 This switch is norma a. ulcrum ost 64, shown in detail in Figs.

3 and 5. xlhis post is adapted to be electrically connected to the condu tor at the back of the panel and forms a." crum for 5 holding lever 65. Said lever in* the present design' is held spaced from the panel by a sleeve 66 which encrcles the ost. One arm of said levex'is provided .with a-block Vof insulation 67, located in position to be engaged by the lower end of the operating rod 45. Theother arm of the lever has, bypref erence, a carbon. tip 68 adapted -to engage the carbon tip 69Hcarried -by the post 70. Post 70. projects from the front ofthe panel and is 'ada ted to b e. electricall connected to the con uctor at the back o the panel.

A spring 7,1 whichinthe present instanceA encircles the sleev'e66 is fastened at one end,

to the panel and atthefotherV end to lever -v zo e5 and tends to'normally .hold ,theswitch 65 in contctwith postIO. This springhowever, is.` weak Venough to be overcome by the force ofthe rod 45 when the latter descends, andA hencewhile the holding lever` GQ tends to move.automatically'l to closedip "tion, it will reinain .in open position 'when y switch'is open. 1 But assoon asrthe 21 of the main switch has become .e

and the main switch has traveled fais ight A distance4 toward closed-.positongfthehold switch 6 5 will `:nitomatically ,move;.to 'c1 position; and thereafter 'hold lits; Acircuit closed until themain 1switch'returns t0 open j' in 4 "Y" v l... I will-now further explain theo ation of the mechanism by describing the 'agram shown in-.Fig. 6. i

R, R1, Rz and .Ra represent'` sections of starting resistance connected together in series.V -ggth'ese areconnected 4 at' the?Y ends by conductors .r, fri; fr? 'fand f'fto contact@ iingers j 4, 4*, @y and 4'. :,Fingelfffis' Electricallyconnectell by..ycomlucton ,S4-to A contact finger,

the stationary contact 57 which is connected by the conductor 97 to the stop switchf98. The protectin resistance99 is connected at one end to te 'post 58 and at the other to the protecting switch 53 so that when 70` the switch is opened the resistance will be in circuit and when the switch is closed-the resistance will 'be short circuited. The stop switch 98 is normally held l,inenlagement by the stationary contact 100 whi v1s elec 75 trically connected to the stationarycontact 101.v Contact 101 is in osition to be engaged by the starting contro switch 102,.wh1ch isnormally held out of engagement with contact 101. -Switch 102 i'sconnected by con- 80 ductors103, 104 and 105 to theconductor'l which is connected .-to one side ofthesnpply switcln. The contacts 100=andf101fare conf nected by conductors. and" 11'1 f' to-1athe holdinl switchi. Switch 16a-tends teenies. ge te stationary. lcontact-691which"iB="con-f` l n'ected by the conductor'.11410 thecondncf torr105. .-'The holdin switch 65 isladapted to be held open .by t e rod45"whiclrlmo'ves in unison .with the core 20.-'1Ro`d 45'hasanut 90 48 which is adapted yto engagefthelevefw when the core rises andthus cause ,thelopensf' in of the'protecting switch- 53.

perationz For convenience, let -it be as# i s'umed that the supply-conductorsflfanl 95" 121 represent the positive'und-negative-sides 'l respectivelyof the supxply'circiitgthcfsanie -being connected to t e. two-sides fofjthe' 'double pole-'switch V89,wso -th'ai when the switchl is closed conductor`-'lw'ill beacon-.100

4. Fingeitatiis connectedrby'all'condxictor 86 90-"to theconductor 91,"t lience""througlithe I5 to ,one of, the ,te1 "minuls" 'of ]th e: alfixxatllre- M of ytirol-motor.'flhe `cthenliterrninal of 'said armature,:isfeonnected byfa conductor l87 through gv'a fnseSSto' one .side` of` a. two pole supply {switch 89." The "other-.sided Said switch is `connect'cdf through a Afuse 90 and conductos: 91, to one end ofthe'solenoid S. f Conductor91'is5nlsc connected by fa' exible r condncton v92` `tou'tlle conductor ,j bar `10-'-101 Bnl' l0`-l0l is. carried' by the., core 20. The perfs nrc-so .consfmcted- `thntwhen the sole-4 noid-.is energized it willcalisc the .bar 10Q-10 to risc und engage the fingesfyfif, 4 and 4 in thc orrlcrnnmed.. finally 4l'ar'xgaging the two' fingers l and# and shortcircuiting the resstzlncc.Avr Fingcriis connected by a con-- dnctor 94 to. the-'field coil. 1F whichis arranged in shunt with lthe armature o f the motor M. fn-The opposite end of solenoid S' is connected to theiprotec'ting'- switch 153, y in engagexnent with solenoid S, thencefthrougfl -switch"53, Fcontact 457; postl, `con'dn .switch 598,1 1 contact 100, 'contact `10i witch 102,V conductors: 1.103,' 104, l105:- ena' 1'87; --fu.

.throliglithe solenoid tinue with its program of operation'. s 13o eveneens 1.16

, mi 11N from contrat,- 'i'ooto-"cbnductoe 111,0, anche the core 20 rises, it causes the bar or main switch -10 to rise and clivage the fingers 4, 4, 4", 4 successively, thus liirst closing the armature circuit through all the starting resistance and thereafter cutting out one section of ,resistance after another from the armature circuit and permitting the motor to accelerate at a proper rate. Owin to th'e presence of the by-pass 40 of the ash pot of the physical structure, the initial movement which permits the holding switch to close will be very rapid. After that the I current passing through the solenoid is greatl reduced, although still sullicient to secure y hold the main switch in final running position. By thus reducing the amount of current-"ilowng through the solenoid,

overheating of the solenoid is prevented.

us in my device, I obtaxn a strong -pull on the main switch during the .movementto closed position, but immediately thereafter reduce thel amount of current passing through the solenoid and thus avoid all da'ver of overheating it.. operator opens the"stop switch 98 whereu on the solenoid is denergized, the mova le parts quickly drop and o en the switch thus permanently holding t e circuit open until the control switch 102 is again closed. In this, the preferred construction, the main `switch 10--10 when closed is in en gagement with two contacts 4and 4 instead of but one. This increases the amount of contact surface in use and co ondingly 'reduces the contact resistance an correspondingly improves the elliciency of the contact. L

It will be observed that in addition to the advantageous electrical features of m device, there are important structural a vantages. For example, the parts are com act and symmetrical, and hence are adapte to be lnclo in a` comparatively small and symmetrical casing 122. Also, the dash pot cylinder is mounted directly upon the sole- 'noid frame 123, thus forming a very rigid construction which always maintains absolute alinement between the cylinder and the solenoid. Furthermore, the levers and switches are simple in construction and durable and may be readily replaced in case of n en it is desired to stop the motor, the

Having thus described my invention, what e5 l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In an automatic starter, a starting resistance, a movable element for short circulting said resistance, a control circuit, and an. electromagnetic coil in said control circuit for operating said movable element, said control circuit having two parallel branches, one of said branches being closable bythe closure of a normally open control switch, and the other branch having a normally closed holding switch held open by the movable short circuiting element when the latter is in non-running position, the holding switch being a self closing switch and being detached from said short-circuiting element.

2. In an automatic starter, a starting resistance, a movable element for short circuiting said resistance, a control circuit, an electromagnetic coil in said control circuit for operating said movable element, said controlcircuit having two parallel branches, the control circuit being consequently closed when either one of said branches is on closed circuit, a control switch for closin one of said branches, and a holding switc `for closing the other of said branches, the control switch tending to remain open and the holdin switch tending to remain closed, said holcn switch being held in open position by said movable element when said movable element is in nonrunning position, and said holding switch bein detached from the movable element and being released durin the initial portion of the movement of said movable element toward running position.

-8. In an automatic starter, a starting resistnce having` a. plurality of sections, and contacts for said sections arranged in echelon, a short-circuitng element movable into engagement with said contacts eeratim, a

control circuit, an electro-magnetic coil in said control circuit for operating said shortcitclliting element, said con trol circuit having two parallel branches, a control switch for closin one of said branches, and a holding switch for closing the other of said branches, the holdingswitch being a self closing switch held in ope-n position by the short circuiting element when'said short circuitin element is in non-running osition, said ort circuiting element being etached from said holdin switch` whereby its movement is unlimite by the holding switch.' r

4. In a starting device for ,electric'motors a starting resistance having a plurality of sections with contacts arranged in diderent ranks, one behind the other, a main switch parallel branches, s, control switch for losing main switch exoesdjmg the travel of the holdone of said branches, and a' holdin switc in switch, andfhe main switch being de-'gl' for holding the other of said brano es, the tegoed from said holdi switch to thereby holding swltch being spring-pressed toward prevent the holding swi from limiting the 5 closed ositon, and bem 1n position to be movement of the main switch.`

engage by said main swxtch and moved to In witness whereof, I have hereunto subopen position by it when the latter is in noxscribed my neme. l mal non-running position, the travel of the HIRHON L. VAN VALKENBURG. 

